The Filene Store: A Study of Employees' Relation to Management in a Retail Store

By Mary Van Kleeck and Mary La Dame

"The Filene Store: A Study of Employees' Relation to Management in a Retail Store" is a comprehensive examination of one of the most significant early experiments in industrial democracy within the American retail sector. This study delves into the innovative management practices of the William Filene's Sons Company in Boston, focusing specifically on the Filene Cooperative Association. This pioneering organization allowed employees a voice in the store's administration, including representation on the board of directors and a system for arbitrating grievances.

Through detailed analysis, the text explores how this collaborative model influenced employee morale, operational efficiency, and the overall stability of the retail environment. The work provides an invaluable look at the evolution of labor relations and the attempt to reconcile corporate interests with worker empowerment and social justice. For scholars and readers interested in the history of business management, labor economics, and the development of modern workplace culture, "The Filene Store" remains a seminal text that documents a bold attempt to redefine the traditional hierarchy between employer and employee.

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025656717
• ISBN13: 9781025656717
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 544 Pages
• Weight: 2.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.1" x 9.2"